Automatic switch.



J. L. McQUARRIE.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILEVD 05c. 30. 1916.

Patented May 28,1918.

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J. L. MCQUARRIE.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 30. IsIe.

1,267,433. Patented May 28 1918.

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l l N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES 14-. MQQUARRIE, OF MONTCLAIB, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COBIORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC swrrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent To all whom it may concern: e

Be it known that I, JAMES L. MoQUAaRm, a citizen of the United States, residin at Montclair, in the county of Essex and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Automatlc Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone systerns, and more particularly to automatlc switches employed in such systems.

The object of this invention is to provide a switch for use in small telephone exchanges, which is simple in construction, accurate in operation and economical to manufacture and install.

The main feature of this invention is the employment of an automatic step-by-step switch constructed to interconnect a plurality of calling and called telephone lines.

Another feature of this invention is the provision in an automatic step-by-step switch of two sets of brushes, one set adapted to engage'the terminals of the calling line, and the other set to engage the terrnlnals of the called line, and a common operating shaft controlling the positioning of each of said sets of brushes.

A further feature of this invention is the provision in an automatic switch consisting of a plurality of fixed contacts arranged to form a panel, of two sets of electrically connected movable contacts, one set of movable contacts operating to find the fixed contacts in which a calling line terminates and the other set of movable contacts operating to engage the fixed contacts in which the de sired, or called line, terminates.

An additional feature of this invention is the provision of a single means for ele into engagement; Fig. 3 represents a sectional plan view of a portion of the switch showing the terminals or fixed contacts and the sets of switch brushes so arranged that one set of brushes engages one face of the termlnals and the other set of brushes engages the other face of the same group of terminals; Fig. 4 represents diagrammatically a portion of a telephone system in which the switch .of this invention may be employed.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates a brush shaft mounted. for vertical and rotary movement in the frame structure generally designated 6. The shaft 5 near its lower portion, is provided with ratchet teeth 7, with which a pawl 8 carried by the armature of the stepping or elevating magnet 9, engages to elevate the brush shaft. A pawl 10 carried by the armature of a release magnet 11, normally engages the ratchet teeth to support the shaft in any position to which it has been elevated. The brush shaft 5 near its intermediate portion, is provided with a feather 12 with which extension 13 of the armature of turning magnet 14 engages, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.- The brush shaft carries an insulated projection 15 which controls the spring Patented May 28, 1918.

16 to bring it into engagement with contact 18 when the brush shaft is in its normal position, and into engagement with contact 17 when the brush shaft has been moved from its normal position. The closing of contacts 17 and 18 controls circuits which-will also be described later.

Slidably mounted on the upper portion of the brush 'shaft is a sleeve 20. A holding dog 21 is pivotally carried onthe sleeve and is placed under tension so that it engages the brush shaft 5. The brush shaft 5 near its upper portion, is provided with a plurality of notches 19- with which the dog 21 engages when the shaft has been rotated, as will be described in the operation of the switch. A plurality of brushes 22, properly insulated from each other, are secured to the sleeve 20 to move therewith. These brushes constitute sets which engage the fixed terminals 23 of the telephone lines which terminate at the.

switch. The terminals 23 are multipled to fixed terminals 24. The sleeve 20 also carries an insulated projection 25 which controls the off-normal contact springs 26. A vertical rod- 27 mounted in the frame 6 serves as a .support .on which a sleeve 28 is slidably mounted. A holding dog 29 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 28 and is tensioned so that one of its ends engages the vertical rod 27. The rod 27 is provided with a plurality of notches 30 with which the dog 29 engages during the course of the operation of the switch. The upper end of the dog 23 is notched to receive an angular arm 31 which is rigidly secured to the upper end of the brush shaft 5. A plurality of brushes 32 properly insulated from each other, are secured to the sleeve 28. The sets of brushes 22 and 32 are electrically connected by means of commutator brushes 33 and 34 which engage conducting strips 35 of the commutator v 36. The commutator 36, which may be suported on the frame in any desired manner, 1s provided on each of its broad faces with conducting strips 35, these strips 1n turn being connected together in any desired manner.

Referring to Fig. 2, the structure of the switch herein shown is essentially the same as that disclosed in Fig. 1, the multipled terminals being shown arranged in separate banks.

Fig. 3 shows the switch modified so that the finder brushes 32 and finder connector brushes 22 may engage the same group of terminals designated 24. To achieve this result the terminals of a set which are known as tip, ring and sleeve terminals, are made of different lengths and breadths. The terminal 24 is of relatively short length and of relatively great breadth; the terminal 24 is made longer and narrower than the terminal 24, while the terminal 24 is the longest and narrowest terminal of the set. Finder brushes 32*, 32,and 32 are made of unequal lengths to engage their relative terminals 24*, 24 and 24. The connector brushes 22, 22 and 22 are similar in construction and arrangement to the finder brushes just described. It will be understood that the terminals 23, 23 and 23 are multipled to the terminals 24*, 24 and 24.

Referring to the operation, when a call originates on any of the lines terminating in the switch, circuit conditions are set up which cause the elevating magnet 9 to vibrate its armature. The pawl 8 carried by this armature, engages the ratchet teeth 7 to elevate the brush shaft 5. The brush shaft 5, by means of its arm 31, elevates the sleeve 28 and the brushes 32 carried thereby until the brushes 32 engage the terminals of the calling line. The armature 10 of the release magnet 11 which is normally deenergized, holds the brush shaft in the position to which it has been elevated. When the calling line is found, circuit conditions are brought about which cause the turning magnet 14 to be energized. This magnet attracts its armature and the extension 13 engages the feather 12 to rotate the shaft 5 until the holding dog 21 is in operative relation to the notches 19. When the brush shaft is rotated, the arm 31 disengages the notch in the holding dog 29, permitting this dog to engage \the notches 30. The finder brushes 32 are thus held in engagement with the terminals of the calling line. When the directive impulses corresponding to the digits ofthe subscribers number are transmitted, the elevating magnet 9 vibrates its armature. As the armature is vibrated, the pawl 8 again elevates the brush shaft, but at this time, since the pawl 21 engages one of the notches 19, the sleeve 20 moves upward with the shaft. The brushes 22, which are carried by the sleeve 20, are thus brought into engagement With the terminals of the called line. The finder brushes 32 and the connector brushes 22 are interconnected through the agency of commutator brushes 33 and 34 and conducting commutator strips 35. As the sleeve 20 is elevated, the contact springs 26 are brought into engagement to control circuits which may be described later.

At the close of the conversation, the release magnet 11 is energized, causing it to retract its armature and withdraw the holding dog 10 from the ratchet teeth 7. The shaft 5 drops until the sleeve 20 is supported by stops 38 and until the insulated projection 25 opens the contact springs 26. The turning magnet 14 is then denergized and permits the shaft to be rotated to its normal position under the control of the spiral spring 37, thus disengaging the dog 21 out of the notches 19. The arm 31 thereupon engages the notch in the holding dog 29 which causes this dog to disengage the notches 30, whereupon the sleeve 28 of the finder brushes 32 and the shaft 5 descend to their normal position.

Referring to the circuit arrangement diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4, when the calling subscriber whose substation is indicated at 50 removes his receiver from the switchhook, the line relay 51 is energized in the well-known manner over a circuit which may be traced from grounded battery, left-hand Winding of line relay 51, outer armature and back contact of cut-off relay 52, substation apparatus 50, inner back con tact and armature of cut-0E relay 52, righthand winding of line relay 51 to ground. The line relay attracts its armature and completes a circuit for the escape magnet 53, which circuit extends from grounded battery, winding of escape magnet 53, left-hand armature and back contact of slow-release relay 54, side-switch wiper 55 in its first position, armature and front contact of line relay 51 to ground. A self-interrupting circuit for the stepping or elevating magnet 9 in parallel with the circuit of the escape magnet is simultaneously completed from grounded battery, windin of stepping magnet 9, its armature and ack contact, sideswitch wiper 55, armature and front contact of line relay 51 to round. The stepping magnet 9 elevates t e brushes 32 until the terminals of the calling line are engaged whereupon the cut-off relay 52 is energized over a circuit extending from grounded battery, winding of relay 52, test terminal 24 of the calling line, finder test brush 32", commhtator brush 33", conducting portion of the commutator 35, conductor 56, left-hand back contact and armature of release magnet 11 to ground. The cut-off relay 52 attracts its armatures and thereby interrupts the energizing circuit of the line relay 51.

The line relay retracts its armature, interrupting the energizing circuit of the escape magnet 53 and the stepping magnet 9. The escape .magnet 53 upon denergization,

moves the side-switch wipers into their second position.

As soon as the side-switch wipers move into their second position and before the stepping magnet 9 has begun its further operation, the turning magnet 14 is energized over a circuit extending from grounded battery, winding of this relay, side-switch wiper 71 in its second position to ground. Magnet 14 attracts its armature, and after the secondary movement of the switch is begun,

a locking circuit is completed which extends from grounded battery, the winding, armature and front contact of magnet 14, contact springs 26 to ground. .The magnet 14 is thus maintained energized during the conversation. With the side-switch wipers in their second position, the line relay 57 is energized over a circuit extending from' grounded battery, left-hand winding of line relay 57, side-switch wiper 58 in its second position, conducting portion 35 of the-commutator, commutator 33, finder brush 32", terminal 24", substation apparatus 50, terminal 24, finder brush 32, commutator 33, conducting portion 35 of the commutator, side-switch wiper 59 in its second position, right-hand Winding of line relay 57 to ground. Line relay 57- attracts its armature and at its front contact completes a circuit for energizing the slow-release relay 60. This circuit extends from ground, armature and front contact of line relay 57, winding of relay 60 to grounded battery. The relay 6O attracts its armatures and as the line relay 57 vibrates its armature in response to impulses from the dial switch, an energizing circuit for the slow releasing relay 54 is completed from grounded battery, windin of this relay, front contact and armature o relay 60, back contact and armature of line relay 57 to ground. The relay 54 attracts its armatures and at its left-hand armature and front contact completes an energizing circuit for the escape magnet 53 which may be traced from grounded battery, winding of escape magnet 53, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 54, armature and back contact of ringing trip relay 61 to ground.

At the time the slow-releasing relay 60 atating circuits when the linerelay 57 vibrates its armature, but, at the close of the directive series of impulses, line relay 57 attracts its armature for a relatively long interval and interrupts at its back contact the energizing circuit of the relay 54. This relay deenergizes and at its left-hand armature and front contact interrupts the energizing circuit of the escape magnet 53. This magnet dener'gizes and moves the sideswitch wipers into their third position. In position 3 of the side-switch wipers the relay 54 is maintained energized over a circuit extending from grounded battery, winding of relay 54, side-switch wiper 62 in its third position, front contact and armature of line relay 57 to ground. The relay 54 attracts its armatures and at its left-hand armature and front contact completes an energizing circuit for the escape magnet 53, which circuit extends from grounded battery, winding of magnet 53, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 54, armature and back contact of relay 61 to ground. The escape magnet 53 attracts its armature and closes an energizing circuit for the ringing trip relay 61, which circuit is established from grounded battery, generator 65, winding of ringing trip relay 61, front contact and armature of escape magnet 53, conductor 64, side-switch wiper 70 in its third position, conducting portion 35 of the commutator, commutator brush 34", connector brush 2'2", terminal 23. through the substation apparatus (not shown), terminal 23, connector brush 22 commutator brush 34, conducting portion 35 of the commutator, side-switch wiper 54 in its third position, conductor 63, front contact and armature of relay 57, to ground. The ringing trip relay 61 is marginal and is battery, left-hand winding of relay 68, con-" ductor 69, side-switch wiper 70 in its fourth position, conducting segment 35 of the commutator, commutator brush 34 connector brush 22", terminal 23", through the substation apparatus (not shown), terminal 23, connector brush 22, commutator brush 34, conducting portion 35" of the commutator, side-switch wiper 54; in its fourth position, right-hand winding of relay 68 to ground.

At the close of the conversation when the calling and called parties have replaced their receivers on the switchhooks, the relays 57 and 68 retract their armatures. This completes an energizing circuit for the release magnet 11 which is established from grounded battery, ofi-normal spring 16, contact 17 winding of release magnet 11, conductor 66, back contact and armature of relay 68, back contact and armature of relay 60, back contact and armature of line relay 57 to ground. Release magnet 11 looks itself up through its armature and front contact to ground.

If the called line is busy, the release magnet 11 is energized before the side-switch wipers move out of position 2, over a circuit which may be traced from grounded battery, off-normal spring 16, contact 17, winding of release magnet 11, conductor 66, right-hand armature and back contact of relay 54, side-switch wiper 72, conducting portion 35 of the commutator, commutator brush 34 connector brush 22 terminal 23 to ground at a side-switch wiper similar to 72 at another connector. net 11 establishes a locking circuit for itself from grounded battery, through spring 16,

contact 17, winding of the release magnet- 11, front contact and left-hand armature of this relay to ground, which circuit is maintained closed until the switch is restored to its normal position. When the release magnet 11 retracted its right-hand armature, a busy tone was applied to the calling line, The busy tone is imposed on the circuit which extends from round, secondary winding of induction c011 67, righthand front contact and armature of release magnet 11, winding of relay 68 to grounded battery. This tone is then induced in the windings of relay 68 which at this time are in circuit with thecalling substation apparatus.

Talking battery is supplied for the calling subscriber through the windings of relay 57,

The release mag- Y while talking battery is supplied to the called subscriber through the windings of relay 68.

'What is claimed is:

1. \In an automatic switch, a brush contact support, a plurality of sets of passive contacts, sets of active contacts carried by said support and arranged to interconnect any set of passive contacts with any of the other sets of passive contacts, and means for moving said support longitudinally to cause one set of active contacts to engage with a set of fixed contacts and directively to move another set of active contacts into engagement with a desired set of passive contacts.

2. In an automatic switch, a plurality of sets of fixed contacts, a plurality of sets of movable contacts arranged to interconnect any set of fixed contacts with any other set of fixed contacts, a shaft for operating said movable contacts arranged for longitudinal movement, and means for controlling said shaft to operate said sets of movable contacts successively.

3.-In an automatic switch, a plurality of sets of fixed contacts, a plurality of sets of movable contacts arranged to interconnect any set of fixed contacts with any other set of fixed contacts, a member for operating the sets of said movable contacts, and means for operating said member through a series of short movements.

4. In an automatic switch, a plurality of sets of fixed contacts, a plurality of sets of movable contacts arranged to interconnect any set of fixed contacts with any other set of fixed contacts, a shaft for operating said sets of movable contacts arranged for longitudinal movement, a single means for elevating said shaft, and means for controlling said shaft to elevate said sets of movable contacts successively.

5. In an automatic switch, a plurality of fixed contacts, two sets of movable contacts arranged to interconnect any set of fixed contacts with any other set of fixed contacts, one set of said movable contacts being arranged to engage one face of said fixed contacts, the other set of said movable contacts being arranged to engage the other face of said fixed contacts, and means for operating said movable contacts.

6. In an automatic switch, a plurality of fixed contacts, two sets of movable contacts arranged to interconnect any set of fixed contacts with'any other set of fixed contacts,

one set of said movable contacts being arranged to engage one face of said fixed contacts, the other set of said movable contacts being arranged to enga e the other face of said fixed contacts, and means for successively operating said sets of movable con tacts.

7. In an automatic switch, sets of fixed nect an set of fixed contacts with any other 10 set of xed contacts, and common means for successively moving said sets of movable contacts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th dayof December, A. D. 16

JAMES L. MQQUARRIE. 

